Tensioned metal wheel



H. J. FOSTER TENSIONEDMETAL WHEEL,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1 918. .l,4=14,013.'

2 suszrs snsw 1.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

- H. J. FOSTER- TENSIONED METAL'WHEEL- APPLICATION FILED' MAY 13, 19H!- Patented Apr. 25,1922.

2 sns ns suan 2.

HENRY J. FOSTER, or oLEvELAND. OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HYDRAULIC rnnssnn STEEL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, 'A oonrona'rron or OHIO.

rmvsroivnn METAL WHEEL.

' Specification of Letters Patent. 1 1 1 61 A 25 192% Application filed May 13, 1918. Serial No. 234,108.

To all whom it may concern; I

.Be it knownthatl, HENRY J. Fosrnn, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented'a certain new and useful Improvement in Tensioned Metal Wheels, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to wheels and more particularly to a sheet metal wheel designed for use upon automobiles and motor vehicles.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive metal wheel capable of carrying its load and withstanding lateral strain, and a'still further object is to provide a sheet metal wheel in which the parts will be tensioned in the course of manufacture and whereby a tension or sus pension wheel will be provided thereby permitting the use of lighter. material in the make-up'of a wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal wheel which" can beused in connection with any and all of the present types of demountable tire-carrying rims and means for fastening, the same.

A still further object is to provide a sheet metal wheel of such construction that great and combination all of which will be fully described hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings formingpart hereof Fig.

' 1 is a perspective view of a sheet metal wheel embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section showing one-half of the wheel body; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a wheel embodying my invention; Fig. 4. is a detail sectional view showing aslight'modiflcation; Fig. ,5 is a, view illustrating the relative position of thespokes and felly band prior to the tensioning and fastening operation; Fig. 6 is a detailedge view of the dual spokes; Fig. 7 is adetail perspective View of the same; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the tensioning and fastening bolt; and Fig. 9 shows the blank of one of the. dual spokes.

In the practical embodiment of my inventionI employ a hub A whichoso far as the interior is concerned may be of anydesired construction. Upon the, exterior, the hub is provided with an annular flange 13, adjacent the lnner end, and also an annular flange C, ad acent the outer end, andto these flanges B and C are connected 'the ends "of the dual spokes D; each spoke comprising an inner portion D, an outer portion ."D and an intermediate portion D and at their extreme ends, the spokes are bent in reverse d rections as indicated at D* in order to provide suitable rests or foot pieces for said spokes.

The dual spoke is punched from a sheet of metal inthe form shown in Fig. 9 and it will be noted that the ends thereof are shghtly enlarged and tapered as indicated at D so that when allof the spokes are properly assembled and connected they provlde a nave or central portion, the oblique edgesof each tapered end contacting with the oblique edges of the next adjacent one.

These spoke ends are rigidly connected to the hub flanges B and C by riveting or spot welding, and it will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the front and rear sections of the dual spokes are in line with each other. If desired the spokes can be slightly rounded as indicated at D in orderfto impart a more ornamental finish. In 'connec tion with the sheet metal spokes whichare rigidly connected to the hub flanges as previously described, I employ a' sheet metal felly E, preferably of the box'type and .con structed substantially the same as the box felly shown, described and claimed in my application of even date herewith Serial No. 234,016. Theqcentral portions of the dual spokes or the ends of the front and rear sections are rigidly connected tothe felly E by means of bolts F having large heads G. This bolt head is of such size and shape as to fit exactly into the bend of the dual spoke, the edges of said head which contact with the metal spoke being rounded slightly or given a short'radius in order to avoid the contact of a sharp edge with the metal spoke.

nut H screwed thereon. V 7

By reference to Fig. 5 itwill be noted thata slight space or clearance between the spoke end and the bottom of the box felly and'i when the nut is tightened the head of the the dual spoke is of such length that there is l bolt is drawn forcibly toward the box telly carrying with it the central portion D ot the dual spoke, and the movement 1s continued until the intermediate portion of the spoke is brought into binding contact with the bottom of the box telly as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and then the end of bolt can be headed down or the nut locked in any suitable manner to prevent any poss'ible loosening of these parts. I

When the bolt is drawn up as previously described and the intermediate portion of the spoke drawn up into contact with the box telly the trout and rear portions of the dual spoke will be placed under considerable tension inasmuch as the opposite ends of said spoke have been rigidly secured to the hub flanges. Each one of the dual spokes is tensioned and connected to the box telly and the completed wheel will theretore be a tension or suspension wheel comprising a light box telly, sheet metal spokes each termed ot a single piece 0t sheet metal connected at its.

trout and rear ends to front and rear hub flanges and properly tensioned. while being connected to the box telly at their intermediate points.

It desired inner and outer rings I and It can be arranged upon the hub and secured by means ot bolts L passing through the said rings, spoke endsand hub flanges; and a brake drum M can also be connected at the same time it desired as shown in Fig. 2. Any suitable form of hub cap N may be employed and any suitable form of telly band 0 may be arranged upon the box telly tor the purpose 0t carrying the demountable tire carrying rim P. It the construction of the 7 box telly is suitable, a separate telly band may be dispensed with.

Various types of rim fastening devices may be employed, and in the present instance we have shown the clamping wedge Q arranged upon the transverse bolt R and secured in position by means ot the nut S.

A wheel constructed as herein shown and described is very economical from the stand point ot material and manufacture and when completed provides a strongand durable sheet metal Wheel of neat and attractive appearance and a wheel of the tension flanges, and radially movable members each having an enlarged portion adapted to contact with the intermediate portion of a said dual spoke and move the same into binding contact with said telly.

2. A wheel comprising a telly, a hub hav- 7 ing radial flanges, and spokes consisting each of inner, outer and intermediate portions, the tree ends of said inner and outer portions being rigidly secured to said hub flanges, the intermediate portions ot said spokes being spaced slightly from said telly and means for moving said intermediate portions into contact with said telly and permanently fastening said parts together.

3. A wheel comprising a telly, a hub having flanges, and a plurality of spokes, each spoke bent upon itselt providing inner and outer portions and an intermediate portion, the tree ends of said inner and outer portions being rigidly secured to said hub flanges, the intermediate portions being spaced from said telly, and bolts passing through said intermediate portions and telly, said bolts having enlarged heads adapted to engage said intermediate portions and nuts secured upontheends of said bolts and Within the telly; V

4. A wheel comprising a hub having radial flanges, a box telly, and spokes tormed each of a single piece'ot sheet metal bent 'to provide a dual spoke, the free ends of said spokes being tapered and secured to the hub flanges, the tapered ends ot said spokes contacting, bolts passing through the intermediate portions of the dual spokes, saidbolts having enlarged heads, the edges of which are rounded, nuts within the telly and upon 7 said bolts, and hub rings and bolts all arranged as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

E RY FOSTER; 

